1 - The Letter

One evening, inside a castle in a small kingdom near the mountain, a king, tired from a harsh training session earlier that day, finishes reading a letter sent by a far away ruler:

— What does that maniac think!? Has he finally lost it!? — The king, Èvride I, yells.

— Father, what happened? — Asks his daughter, after entering the chamber. — What was in the letter?

— "Me and my fyrd of a thousand men are currently marching towards you. If you don't gonhand and give us your throne we'll beleaguer your kingdom and you'll all forderf under us." — read Èvride — Go call your mother, Vélia.

The queen was on the other side of the castle painting the night sky, as she liked to do during cloudy full moon like that one.

As Vélia walked her way to the other side of the castle, she began wondering. Knowing her father and the honourable knight he was, he wouldn't just let his army fight alone while he was inside the castle. He would most definitely go fight alongside his subjects. If so, who would be ruling while he was out? Not her mother - consorts can't rule. She didn't have any aunts nor uncles, so they certainly wouldn't be ruling. She was the only one left and, as she was their only child, and even if they had another, she would still be the eldest... ...Interim Vélia II...

— Mother, father is calling you at the office. It's quite urgent.

— And what may it be? — asks the sophorically elevated Védime.

— Oucride has declared war on us.

— Oh...

Both of them ran to the office.

— Dear!, you can't be serious! — yells Védime, blasting through the door. — That idiot is going to have us killed!

— We won't let it happen — responds Èvride. — They may be stronger, but they don't know the area. I doubt that bastard has ever picked up a book.

— Didn't his mother teach him the geography?

— She would never have trusted that moron such thing!

— Touchée.

— How will you be ruling while you're out there, father?— asked Vélia.

— You know exactly what we'll do, dear — says Èvride, immediately. — I will crown you as the Interim while I fight. They'll love you. Anything you can't do, ask your mother.

— He should take about a week before reaching us — said Védime. — If you part at afternoon, we could stop them on day three.

— He will probably retreat at sight, that coward.

"Vélia, that friend from the towers you have. Do you know if he's still awake?"

— I think so - it's not that late. Why?

— Go tell him to prepare for the war. He can't fight outside yet, but he can help us with the supplies. Tomorrow will be a long day.

— Ok.

Chapter 2